Second Brahmana

1. In the beginning there was nothing (to be perceived) here
whatsoever. By Death indeed all this was concealed—by hunger; for
death is hunger. Death (the first being) thought, “Let me have a body.”
Then he moved about, worshipping. From him thus worshipping water was
produced. And he said: “Verily, there appeared to me, while I
worshipped (arkate), water (ka).” This is why water is called ar-ka.
Surely there is water (or pleasure) for him who thus knows the reason
why water is called arka.

2. Verily water is arka. And what was there as the froth of the
water, that was hardened, and became the earth. On that earth he
(Death) rested, and from him, thus resting and heated, Agni (Virâg)
proceeded, full of light.

3. That being divided itself threefold, Aditya (the sun) as the
third, and vayu (the air) as the third. That spirit (prâna) became
threefold. The head was the Eastern quarter, and the arms this and that
quarter (i.e. the N. E. and S. E., on the left and right sides). Then
the tail was the Western quarter, and the two legs this and that
quarter (i.e. the N. W. and S. W.) The sides were the Southern and
Northern quarters, the back heaven, the belly the sky, the dust the
earth. Thus he (Mrityu, as arka) stands firm in the water, and he who
knows this stands firm wherever he goes.

4. He desired, “Let a second body be born of me,” and he (Death or
Hunger) embraced Speech in his mind. Then the seed became the year.
Before that time there was no year. Speech bore him so long as a year,
and after that time sent him forth. Then when he was born, he (Death)
opened his mouth, as if to swallow him. He cried Bhan! and that became
speech.

5. He thought, “If I kill him, I shall have but little food.” He
therefore brought forth by that speech and by that body (the year) all
whatsoever exists, the Rik, the Yagus, the saman, the metres, the
sacrifices, men, and animals.

And whatever he (Death) brought forth, that he resolved to eat (ad).
Verily because he eats everything, therefore is Aditi (Death) called
Aditi. He who thus knows why Aditi is called Aditi, becomes an eater of
everything, and everything becomes his food.

6. He desired to sacrifice again with a greater sacrifice. He toiled
and performed penance. And while he toiled and performed penance,
glorious power went out of him. Verily glorious power means the senses
(prâna). Then when the senses had gone out, the body took to swelling
(sva-yitum), and mind was in the body.

7. He desired that this body should be fit for sacrifice (medhya),
and that he should be embodied by it. Then he became a horse (asva),
because it swelled (asvat), and was fit for sacrifice (medhya); and
this is why the horse-sacrifice is called Asva-medha.

Verily he who knows him thus, knows the Asva-medha. Then, letting
the horse free, he thought, and at the end of a year he offered it up
for himself, while he gave up the (other) animals to the deities.
Therefore the sacrificers offered up the purified horse belonging to
Pragâpati, (as dedicated) to all the deities.

Verily the shining sun is the Asvamedha-sacrifice, and his body is
the year; Agni is the sacrificial fire (arka), and these worlds are his
bodies. These two are the sacrificial fire and the Asvamedha-sacrifice,
and they are again one deity, viz. Death. He (who knows this) overcomes
another death, death does not reach him, death is his Self, he becomes
one of those deities.